Coyote vs Acme (2026)
02-16-22 | 03:56 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Moderator
Coyote vs Acme (2026)
John Cena is going from the bullet- and F-bomb-strewn world of Peacemaker to the more family-friendly yet no less hazardous world of Looney Tunes.
The actor has closed a deal to star in Coyote vs Acme, a live-action/CG animation hybrid feature from Warner Bros. centered on the classic Looney Tunes character Wile E. Coyote.
Dave Green, who previously helmed Earth to Echo and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows, is directing. Chris DeFaria and James Gunn are producing the film. Screenwriter Samy Burch penned the latest draft of the script, based on the New Yorker humor article “Coyote v. Acme” by Ian Frazier, published in 1990.
Wile E. Coyote is, of course, the silent and cunningly inventive mammal who is endlessly foiled in his attempts to capture and kill his nemesis and potential meal, the Road Runner. He is aided in his attempts by devices mail-ordered from Acme Corporation, which never quite work the way they are supposed to.
The feature will tell the story of a down-on-his-luck (human) attorney who takes on Wile E. as a client in his suit against Acme over its defective products, only to discover that his boss at his former law firm is representing Acme.
Cena will play the former boss in the feature, which seems like part courtroom drama, part family comedy.
Production is due to begin in late March in New Mexico.
A champion WWE wrestler, Cena has made huge strides into acting, tackling profane comedies (Blockers, Vacation Friends) and family comedies (Playing With Fire) in equal measure, as well as adventure and action movies. Last year he starred in both F9: The Fast Saga and The Suicide Squad, the latter a Warners DC movie that spun off his character, Peacemaker, into his own series for HBO Max.
The show has proven to be a buzzworthy draw for the streamer, and earlier Wednesday HBO Max announced it was renewed for a second season.
Cena is repped by ICM Partners
The actor has closed a deal to star in Coyote vs Acme, a live-action/CG animation hybrid feature from Warner Bros. centered on the classic Looney Tunes character Wile E. Coyote.
Dave Green, who previously helmed Earth to Echo and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows, is directing. Chris DeFaria and James Gunn are producing the film. Screenwriter Samy Burch penned the latest draft of the script, based on the New Yorker humor article “Coyote v. Acme” by Ian Frazier, published in 1990.
Wile E. Coyote is, of course, the silent and cunningly inventive mammal who is endlessly foiled in his attempts to capture and kill his nemesis and potential meal, the Road Runner. He is aided in his attempts by devices mail-ordered from Acme Corporation, which never quite work the way they are supposed to.
The feature will tell the story of a down-on-his-luck (human) attorney who takes on Wile E. as a client in his suit against Acme over its defective products, only to discover that his boss at his former law firm is representing Acme.
Cena will play the former boss in the feature, which seems like part courtroom drama, part family comedy.
Production is due to begin in late March in New Mexico.
A champion WWE wrestler, Cena has made huge strides into acting, tackling profane comedies (Blockers, Vacation Friends) and family comedies (Playing With Fire) in equal measure, as well as adventure and action movies. Last year he starred in both F9: The Fast Saga and The Suicide Squad, the latter a Warners DC movie that spun off his character, Peacemaker, into his own series for HBO Max.
The show has proven to be a buzzworthy draw for the streamer, and earlier Wednesday HBO Max announced it was renewed for a second season.
Cena is repped by ICM Partners
02-17-22 | 11:40 AM
#2
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
re: Coyote vs Acme (2024)
ummmm WTF is this? Live-action Wile E? This will be a train wreck.
02-17-22 | 03:07 PM
#3
DVD Talk Legend
re: Coyote vs Acme (2024)
I saw this a day or so ago and I still can't think of what to write. I grew up on Looney Tunes. We didn't go to church, cartoons like this were my holy texts. I hated the Space Jam movies and generally don't like any mixed type movies (Roger Rabbit is an exception because it leans into the concept) but this concept here sounds kinda fun.
If they keep the 'toon characters as animated, like in the classic style, with some fully animated sequences, it could be interesting.
If they keep the 'toon characters as animated, like in the classic style, with some fully animated sequences, it could be interesting.
02-20-22 | 12:47 PM
#4
DVD Talk Legend
re: Coyote vs Acme (2024)
History hasn't shown many live action / animated hybrids that have worked out well. Cena is fun enough, but only time will tell if this turns out ok.
02-20-22 | 03:44 PM
#5
DVD Talk Godfather
re: Coyote vs Acme (2024)
Mary Poppins, Roger Rabbit, Space Jam, Enchanted & LEGO Movie, immediately come to mind. That's a decent buncha films.
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02-21-22 | 12:26 PM
#7
Banned
02-22-22 | 10:45 AM
#8
DVD Talk Legend
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03-09-22 | 06:11 PM
#9
Thread Starter
Moderator
re: Coyote vs Acme (2024)
EXCLUSIVE: Will Forte and Lana Condor are set to join John Cena in Warner Bros’ Looney Tunes animated hybrid pic Coyote vs. Acme. Dave Green will direct, with a screenplay from Samy Burch based on the Looney Tunes characters and the New Yorker humor article “Coyote v. Acme” by Ian Frazier.
The film follows Wile E. Coyote, who after ACME products fail him one too many times in his dogged pursuit of the Roadrunner, decides to hire a billboard lawyer to sue the ACME Corporation. The case pits Wile E. and his lawyer (Forte) against the latter’s intimidating former boss (Cena), but a growing friendship between man and cartoon stokes their determination to win.
Chris DeFaria and James Gunn are producing, the latter, who also created the Peacemaker series, under his Troll Court production banner. The film is set to bow in theaters on July 21, 2023.
The film follows Wile E. Coyote, who after ACME products fail him one too many times in his dogged pursuit of the Roadrunner, decides to hire a billboard lawyer to sue the ACME Corporation. The case pits Wile E. and his lawyer (Forte) against the latter’s intimidating former boss (Cena), but a growing friendship between man and cartoon stokes their determination to win.
Chris DeFaria and James Gunn are producing, the latter, who also created the Peacemaker series, under his Troll Court production banner. The film is set to bow in theaters on July 21, 2023.
03-09-22 | 08:31 PM
#10
DVD Talk Hero
re: Coyote vs Acme (2024)
James Gunn being involved as a producer makes it slightly more interesting.
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11-09-23 | 03:42 PM
#12
DVD Talk God
re: Coyote vs Acme (2024)
Cancelled like Batgirl even though it was filmed. No one will ever see it.
https://variety.com/2023/film/news/w...73e828aa12daf1
https://variety.com/2023/film/news/w...73e828aa12daf1
11-09-23 | 03:48 PM
#13
DVD Talk Godfather & 2020 TOTY Winner
re: Coyote vs Acme (2024)
Bummer, this sounded fun.
11-09-23 | 04:34 PM
#14
DVD Talk Godfather & 2020 TOTY Winner
re: Coyote vs Acme (2024)
Apparently the movie was actually very good.
11-09-23 | 05:19 PM
#15
DVD Talk God
re: Coyote vs Acme (2024)
That shit is nuts. Hopefully in the next negotiations for actors and behind the scenes talent, they can negotiate that this shit doesn't happen anymore.
11-09-23 | 05:31 PM
#16
Thread Starter
Moderator
re: Coyote vs Acme (2024)
They couldn't throw this in theatres and make some bank off the families who'd see it? If not, then why are they moving forward with "The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie" theatrically?
11-09-23 | 05:45 PM
#17
DVD Talk Godfather & 2020 TOTY Winner
re: Coyote vs Acme (2024)
I was okay with Batgirl because the word was that it was terrible and un-releasable. But if this movie is actually good, then why not release it?
11-09-23 | 05:49 PM
#18
DVD Talk Legend
re: Coyote vs Acme (2024)
I would have watched this at least at home and likely in the theater if my daughter showed any interest in it.
Got a chuckle out of the compliment of it being the best of its kind since Roger Rabbit. Better than Cool World? Better than Space Jam? How could that be? 😄
Got a chuckle out of the compliment of it being the best of its kind since Roger Rabbit. Better than Cool World? Better than Space Jam? How could that be? 😄
11-09-23 | 06:02 PM
#19
DVD Talk Hero
re: Coyote vs Acme (2024)
WB can fuck right off with their tax bullshit.
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11-09-23 | 06:03 PM
#20
DVD Talk Hero
re: Coyote vs Acme (2024)
So we got that piece of shit Space Jam: A New Legacy but not this? 
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11-09-23 | 06:44 PM
#21
DVD Talk Hero
re: Coyote vs Acme (2024)
If studios are going to write off their movies, they should also be forced to forfeit all of the raw material and edited footage to the public domain or library of congress or whatever. Taxpayers are essentially footing the bill for these decisions.
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11-09-23 | 06:48 PM
#22
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From: Not necessarily Formerly known as Solid Snake
re: Coyote vs Acme (2024)
I actually like that idea. Full tax write-off, but the material becomes public domain.
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11-10-23 | 09:07 AM
#23
DVD Talk Legend
re: Coyote vs Acme (2024)
Agreed with the public domain idea, I'm not even a fan of John Cena or the live action hybrid Looney Tunes stuff, but if it's getting good reviews then it needs to be seen.
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GoldenJCJ (11-10-23)
11-10-23 | 08:07 PM
#24
re: Coyote vs Acme (2024)
I hope filmmakers start refusing to work with Warner Bros.--at all!--until Zaslav gets the boot.
Once upon a time, prominent directors and stars would sever their ties with major studios for a lot less than this.
Once upon a time, prominent directors and stars would sever their ties with major studios for a lot less than this.
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11-10-23 | 08:52 PM
#25
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From: Not necessarily Formerly known as Solid Snake
re: Coyote vs Acme (2024)
Today, Warner Brothers announced a new business model. At a press junket, an unnamed source spoke on the condition of anonymity: "We are going to green light any project a filmmaker wants to make, but we will never release another movie! It's brilliant! No marketing costs, no distribution costs . . . just the government paying us not to make movies that we made! Rather than announcing release dates, we will announce destruction dates. Dune 2 . . . you're going to make us a fortune!"